Wagon end gate



Sept. 10,` 1929. w, Q SLAMA 1,727,619

WAGON END GATE Filed Aug. 13, 1928 Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. SLAMA, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HARRY R. 4

` ANKENY, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

WAGON END GATE.

Application filed August 13, 1928.

This invention relates to end gates for wagon bodies or boxes.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an end gate in which the separa-ble sections thereof may be securely 'fastened in position between the side boards of a wagon body or box for closing the dumping end thereof, and that may be readily and easily removed7 whereby a load within the box or body may be conveniently dumped or discharged therefrom.

Another object of theJ invention is the provision of an end gate of this character in which the bottom section thereof may be removed independently of the top section, thus avoiding detachment of the 'upper section when it is desired to unload the wagon box or body, although both of said sections are capable of detachment, should the occasion require.

More specifically, the present invention aims to provide simple and eflicient means for effectively securing or releasably fastening the lower section of the end gate in position between the side boards of the wagon body or box, wherebysaidlower section of the end gate may be quickly and easily released and removed when desired. 1

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an end gate of the character described which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in use, and inexpensive to manufacture. f f

The invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In said drawing;

Figure l is a rear elevational view of a wagon box or body provided( with an end gate constructed in accordance with the present invention,k they fastening means for the lower section ofthe endy gate being in projected or locking position.

Figure 2 is a viewgsimilar to Figure l with the fastening means for the lower section of the end gate `in retracted or released position. y

Figure '8 is `a horizontal.

section on line 3-3 of Figure l. v

Serial No. 299,266.

usual side boards 7 are provided at thefop-v posite longitudinal edges of the bottom or floor 5, and attached to the outer sides of the rear ends ofthe side boards 7 are angle iron end gate retaining cleats 8y thateXtend from top to bottom yof the side boards and have inwardly projecting rear iianges 9 spaced from and opposed to the rear end edges of the side boards 7,` the flanges 9 kbeing ofthe same width as the thicknessof the side boards so as to not project inwardly beyond the inner faces of the latten.' y i y f" The present end gate'consists of a lower and preferably relatively narrow board or section 10 removably -fitted betweenv the rear ends of the side boards 7 at the bottoms of the latter andrearwardlyremovable when the fastening means for the lower end gate section isreleased as later described.

The endfgate further embodies an upper preferably wider section 11 removably fitted between the rear ends of ythe'side boards 7 above the lower section l() but held against rearward removal by means of guide'strips l2 fastened to the ends of the gate section 11 and projecting outwardly beyond the ends'of the' latter'for engagementin the f guideways formed between the rear ends of the side boards 7 and the rear inwardly projecting flanges 9 of tlie'cleats 8. It is thus apparent that the upper end gate section 11 is removablebnt only by sliding the same upwardly to disengage the guide strips 12 from between the-flanges 9 and the rear ends of the side yboards 7. n

The `means for removably `securing the lower end Lgate section 10 in place between the side boards 7 includes a relatively short lever 13 pivoted as at 14 between its ends to the' rearside of the lower gate section 10 y maf/gele lintermediate the ends of the latter, whereby the opposite ends of the lever 13 project upwardly and downwardly. The lever 13 is of a length slightly greater than the width or height ol' the lower gate section 10 so that when it is vertically positioned as shown in Figure 1, its ends are adapted to project beyond the upper and lower edges oi' the gate section 10 for respective engagement behind the retaining lips of angular keepers `15 and 16 rigidly fastened respectively to thehlower central portion of the upper gate section 11 and to the central portion ot the rear cross bar 5. Slidably and loosely mounted in guides 17 on the rear side ol the lower gate section 10 at opposite sides of the lever 13 are relatively long horizontal latch bolt-s 18 whose inner ends are pivoted as at 19 to the lever 13 at oppositesides ot its pivot 1e and intermediate'the latter pivot and the respec-` tive adjacent ends of the lever 13. rlhe latch bolts 18 are oi such length that 'the outer ends thereof are projected beyond the ends of the lower gate section 10-when the lever 13 is vertically disposed as mentioned above,

y thereby causing the outer ends ofthe bolts 18 to vbe projected outwardly behind the lower portions of the flanges 9V of cleats 8 and through openings 2() provided in the attach-V` ing Yflanges of ,said cleats.k ,Howeveiy when the-lever 13 is swung from a vertical position to an inclined position as shown in Figure 2 the ends of said lever are disengaged from behind the keepers 15 and 15 and the bolts 18 are retracted from the openings 2O and from behind the flanges 9 so that the lower gate section 10 is completely released and capable of ready rearward removal from between the side boards 7 independently ot the upper gate section 11. lt will be seen that the lever 14 engaging the keepers 15 and 16 will ei'lectively brace Vthe gate section 10 at the center so as toetiectively withstand the weight ot the load againstthe end gate section l() and assist the latch bolts 18 in retaining the lower gate section 10 in place. The lower portions of the flanges 9 are preferably reinforced by means ot straps 21 fastened in place to extend above and below the openings 20. This avoids distortion olI the flangesl 9 when engaged by the bolts 18 while the pressure oi the load in the wagon box is imposed upon the gateV section 10.

A suitable handletor operating the lever 13 is applied to the -lower end of the latter as at 22, and the lower keeper 16 is bifurcated kas at 23 to accommodate the shank of said handle when the lever 13 is vertically positioned with its ends engaged behind the keepers 15 and 16. It will be particularly noted that the keeper 16 is disposedto limit the swinging yof the lever 13 to a vertical locking position, y,while said lever is normally yieldingly swung to this position by means of a helical tension spring 24 attachedeat one y medi ate end to the gate section 10 and at its other end to the lower end of the lever 13. Naturally, the bolts 18 are also normally projected by this spring7 and to facilitate manual rearward removal of the gate section 10 the latter is preferably provided with suitable bail-like handles 25 at opposite sides of the lever 13.

From the above description it will be seen that the upper `gate section 11 may Aberemoved at any time by simply lifting the same upwardly, the lower section 10 being undisturbed. In a like manner, the lower section l() may he released as shown in Figure 2 for rearward removal without disturbing the upper gate section 11, the lever 13 being then swung against the action of the spring 2d to release it as well as the latch bolts 18. At the same time, both gate sections may be removed it desired.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What l claim as new is:

1. ln combination, a wagon box, an end gate including separate upper and lower sections removably i tted between the side boards of said wagon box,va lever centrally pivoted to the lower end gate section inter= f side boards of the wagon box engageable by f the outer ends ol saidlatch bolts when the latter are projected.

2. In combination, a wagon box, an end j gate including separate upper and lower sections removably fitted between the side boards of said wagon box, a lever centrally pivoted to the lower end gate section interits ends, keepers respectively mounted upon the upper end gate section and upon the wagon box below vthe lower endgate section in position to have the ends or said lever engaged tlierebehind when the lever is verticallyy positioned, horizontally lill slidable latch bolts mounted on the lower Lla) Lif)

Cil

the latter are projected, said lever having a rearwardly projecting handle at its lower end, the keeper attached to the wagon box below the lower end gate section having a bifurcated retaining lip adapted to accommodate the handle therebetween when the lever is vertically positioned.

3. In combination, a wagon box, an end gate including separate upper and lower sections removably fitted between the side boards of said wagon box, a lever centrally pivoted to the lower end gate section intermediate its ends, keepers respectively mounted upon the upper end gate section and upon the wagon box below the lower end gate section in position to have the ends of said lever engaged therebehind when the lever is vertically positioned, horizontally slidable latch bolts mounted on the lower end gate section and having their inner ends pivoted to said lever at opposite sides of the pivot of the latter for simultaneous projection beyond the opposite ends of said lower end gate section when the lever is vertically positioned, and keeper elements carried by the side boards of the wagon box engageable by the outer ends of said latch bolts when the latter are projected, the keeper attached to the wagon box below the lower end gate section being arranged to limit swinging movement of the lever in one direction to a vertical position, and yieldable means to normally swing said lever in said one direction to said vertical position.

l. In combination, a wagon box, angle iron cleats fastened to the outer sides of the side boards of said wagon box at the rear ends of the latter and having rear inwardly projecting flanges opposed to but spaced from the rear end edges of said side boa-rds, the inwardly projecting flanges of the cleats being of a width no greater than the thickness of the side boards of the wagon box, an upper end gate section fitted between the side boards of the wagon box and having guide strips secured to the ends thereof, said guide strips projecting outwardly beyond the ends of the upper end gate section and slidably projecting between the rea-r end edges of the side boards of the wagon box and the rear inwardly projecting flanges of the cleats, a. lower end gate section removably iitted between the side boards of the wagon box directly beneath the upper end gate section, keepers mounted on the upper end gate section intermediate the ends thereof and on the wagon box below the intermediat-e portion of the lower end gate section, a lever centrally pivoted to the lower end gate section and adapted to have its ends engaged behind said keepers when vertically positioned, and horizontally slidable latch bolts mounted on the lower end gate scction, said latch bolts being pivoted at their inner ends to said lever at opposite sides of the pivot of the latter and adapted to have their outer ends projected behind the rear inwardly projecting flanges of said cleats when said lever is vertically positioned.

5. A structure as specified in claim 4 wherein the attaching flanges of said cleats are apertured to receive the outer ends of the latch bolts when projected.

6. In combination, a wagon box having a slidable upwardly removable upper end gate section fitted between the side boards thereof and a rearwardly removable lower end gate section fitted between said side boards, and means for removably fastening the lower end gate section in place including keepers carried by the upper end gate section and the wagon box respectively above and below the lower end gate section, a lever pivoted to the lower end gate section and positionable to engage its ends behind said keepers, and sliding latch bolts attached to the lever for simultaneous projection beyond the ends of the lower end gate section when said lever engages said keepers, the side boards of said wagon box having keeper means engageable by the outer ends of the latch bolts when projected.

In testimony whereof I allixmy signature.

WILLIAM G. SLAMA. 

